Story Behind The Song

Sweet beulah land

When Squire was only nine, during a morning service in the small church in Newton where his father was song leader, the congregation was led in the old hymn, "ls Not This the Land of

Beulah?" Squire reports that his dad's face seemed to glow as

he led the song. The whole congregation seemed swept up in

the wonderful prospect of the eternal land about which they were singing. The picture remained in the mind of young Parsons, and he remembers thinking, Dad is looking into Beulah Land.

He also reports, "One morning, years later, as I drove to my teaching job, my mind drifted back to that service in our little church . I was humming the old song as I topped one of the beautiful West Virginia mountains and faced a brilliant sun in all of its glory. All of a sudden, as I continued to think of that scene in our little church, I began to sing, but this time it was a different song, one I had never heard or sung before." It was

the chorus to what has become his most widely known song, "Sweet Beulah Land."

Squire added, "I traveled on to the school. It was early and the students had not yet arrived. I wrote a verse to go with the chorus that had just been born. Five years went by before I wrote a second verse and recorded the song. That launched me into the ministry of a traveling gospel singer and songwriter."

Squire uses some very unusual phrases in the make-up of his song-phrases that are paradoxical in nature-such as being "homesick for a country to which I've never been." Yet faith is a key element in this highly descriptive song-the faith that we hold as we look toward heaven, faith that will "end in sight."

The name, "Beulah Land," is a long used term, but one that evokes happiness and sweetness in our hearts. The "longing for you" spoken of in the song expresses the hopes and feelings of Southern Gospel Music lovers.

Squire Parsons now crisscrosses our nation, singing his songs and reminding us of the beautiful prospect of "Sweet Beulah Land." He has written more than 1500 songs, approximately 500 of which have been published or recorded. A book, The SongsofSquireParsons:The MillennialCollection, was published in 2001, containing 280 of Parsons's songs.

Isaiah 62:4 - Beulah refers to the land of Israel in that passage literally. When translated the word "Beulah" means "married or united". Many use the word "Beulah Land" to refer to our heavenly "Beulah Land" where we will be 1.) Married to the Lord because we are the heavenly bride, 2.) United - we will be united with our heavenly country; united with the Lord; united with the family of